The Strategist's Foresight (Part Two-in-One)

"Ninth Master, I'm here." The Snow Condensing Sword appeared in an instant.

"You're in charge of assigning people. Have them accompany these old brothers who want to return to their Lineages for a look. We won't let the true villains off, but neither should we let them act on impulse and kill innocent people by mistake."

Dongfang Sansan said, "However, if there are still bad people who haven't been completely killed—the kind they can't bring themselves to deal with—have your people help them kill them."

"Understood!"

Dongfang Sansan passed through the crowd. The people automatically parted, opening a path for her. Everyone could feel the endless desolation surrounding Ninth Master.

That desolation was like autumn spreading across the land, blotting out the sky and covering the earth.

It was a strange, bone-deep chill.

The crowd fell utterly silent. Countless eyes met Dongfang Sansan's gaze, then turned away in shame, afraid to look into her eyes.

Dongfang Sansan walked on in silence, her steps slow, her green robe fluttering.

Autumn sorrow filled the air, and the desolation grew thicker.

Countless people lowered their heads, afraid to look at her. Many of them suddenly felt an ache in their hearts for that thin, desolate figure.

"Everyone, remember this."

Dongfang Sansan said earnestly, "We protect the Continent so the Sole True Sect can't bully it, but that doesn't mean we're doing it so that we can bully it ourselves!"

"Everyone, beneath the bright sun and moon, beneath this vast and shining world!"

"For ten thousand years, the Guardian Continent has been filled with aristocratic Lineages. Many of them have already begun to rot beneath our protection and shelter."

"If we don't cut out these tumors, and even lose the support of the people, what will we use to fight the Sole True Sect?